Mold Testing

Without question, moisture intrusion, moisture damage and mold are some of the most common problems we see in the Denver area. Moisture is a homes number one enemy and molds best friend. Contrary to popular belief, our climate here in Colorado is very conducive to mold growth. Heavy snow, rains and flooding are just some of the many factors we deal with. Couple those factors with an older home that was not built with moisture prevention in mind at the time and you are bound to have problems. Even todays newer homes can have moisture problems. While construction techniques today are far better than they ever used to be, they are only as good and efficient as the laborers who practice them.
There is a lot of mis-information concerning mold floating around the home inspection industry today. This is, in part, due to the fact that there is a large transition currently taking place in our industry. To end the confusion, here are some documented FACTS about the most common misconceptions concerning mold.
FACT: You cannot always see mold.
FACT: You cannot always smell mold.
FACT: Approximately 50% of all mold found in homes today is hidden.
FACT: Prolonged exposure to elevated levels of mold spores can cause serious health problems.
FACT: You cannot remove or kill mold on porous surfaces with chlorine bleach.
FACT: KILZ primer does not kill mold nor will it encapsulate mold.
MC2 Home Inspections offers residential mold testing and third party clearance testing for the entire Denver CO and surrounding areas. We are certified through the International Association of Certified Indoor Air Consultants (IAC2) as Indoor Air Quality Professionals. We use the very latest in mold testing equipment and techniques, and adhere to nationally recognized formal protocols for mold testing.
Depending on your situation, we will take direct samples of any visual mold via tape lift to determine the type of mold present and its concentration level. If there is no visible mold present, there is still a possibility of it existing somewhere hidden. 50% of all mold found in homes is hidden behind drywall, underneath carpeting or pad, in the duct work etc. In this case we will take air samples using the Micro5 cassette to determine if higher than acceptable levels of mold spores exist in the air that you are breathing. We will drop off the samples for analysis the same day. Based off of the lab analysis we can narrow down the source possibility and offer suggestions on how to remediate the problem.
We purchase the Micro5 cassettes direct from the manufacturer so you can be assured that you will receive the most accurate results from the freshest cassettes.
Most common symptoms from mold exposure: Chronic fatigue, difficulty breathing, headaches, hives, memory loss, coughing, sore chest, loss of concentration, eye redness, difficulties in learning, skin rashes, watery mucus drips from nose, skin redness, thick slime coming from nose, sneezing, itchy nose, mouth, eyes, throat and skin.
Mold is a very common and very serious issue. If you are thinking of buying or selling a home and have ANY concerns at all about Mold, put your mind at ease and have the home tested, if not by us, by someone.